Control panel for an electrophotographic printer or copier system with front and/or rear processing units and integrated control panel in a printer server

ABSTRACT

A printer or copier system with at least one of a pre-processing unit and a post-processing unit, comprises a printing unit that generates a print image on a carrier material. An operating unit is connected via a data line with the printing unit. The operating unit outputs at least one graphical user interface on a display for operation of the printing unit. At least one processing unit is connected with at least one of the printing unit and the operating unit for processing of the carrier material such that data are transferable between the processing unit and at least one of the printing unit and the operating unit. In the processing unit, data are stored that are transferred to at least one of the printing unit and the operating unit with which the graphical user interface is activated at least for operation of the processing unit.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure concerns a printer or copier system with a pre-processingunit and/or a post-processing unit in which a common control panel isprovided for a printing unit and a processing unit. The disclosure alsoconcerns a method for the operation of a printer or copier system with apre-processing unit and/or a post-processing unit as well as anoperating unit for the operation of a printer or copier system with apre-processing unit and/or a post-processing unit.

In known printer or copier systems, individual components (such asprinters, pre- and post-processing units) in what are known as printeror copier paths respectively have a separate control panel whose userinterface has been created for the respective component. Furthermore,electrophotographic printer or copier systems are known in which acommon control panel is provided for a feeder unit and a print unit. Thecontrol panel has been operated with the aid of a special software thatprovides a common user interface for the feeder unit and the print unit.However, an exchange of the feeder unit with a feeder unit of anothertype is only possible when the software of the operating unit has beenexchanged. An integration of further components of the print path is notpossible in known electrophotographic printer or copier systems. Thusvarious components of the print path have different user interfaces withdifferent operating philosophies. A simple and central operation of theprint path is presently not possible in electrophotographic printer orcopier systems.

A printer or copier in which the operation of accessory devices for pre-and/or post-processing can be mutually operated via a common operatingunit of the printer or copier is known from the document DE 196 11 645A1. Based on the sensor signals, a controller of the printer or copiergenerates corresponding signals for the control of various workingdevices within the printer or copier.

A printing system with two printers working in tandem operation is knownfrom the document DE 198 36 745 A1, whereby at least the control panelcomputer of the first printer and second printer are connected with oneanother via a data line. The document is a disclosure document of apatent application by Oc{acute over (e )} Printing System GmbH. Acontrol unit of the first printer and a control unit of the secondprinter are also connected with one another via a data line. Changedsetting values are automatically directly transmitted to the othercontrol unit, such that other parameters can be adapted in the secondcontrol unit with the aid of the transmitted adjustment value.

From the document US 2001/0055492, a printer or copier is known in whicha user interface for a supervisor is also provided over a network withthe aid of a web server. In particular settings of the printer or copiercan thereby also be set simply from a remote location.

SUMMARY

It is an object to specify a printer or copier system with apre-processing unit and/or a post-processing unit, in which both theoperation of the printer or copier system and the pre- and/orpost-processing systems is possible in a simple manner with a commonoperating unit. It is also an object to specify a method for theoperation of a printer or copier system with a pre-processing unitand/or a post-processing unit as well as an operating unit via which theoperation of printer or copier systems with pre- and/or post-processingunits is possible in a simple manner.

A printer or copier system with at least one of a pre-processing unitand a post-processing unit comprises a printing unit that generates aprint image on a carrier material. An operating unit is connected via adata line with the printing unit. The operating unit outputs at leastone graphical user interface on a display for operation of the printingunit. At least one processing unit is connected with at least one of theprinting unit and the operating unit for processing of the carriermaterial such that data are transferable between the processing unit andat least one of the printing unit and the operating unit. In theprocessing unit, data are stored that are transferred to at least one ofthe printing unit and the operating unit with which the graphical userinterface is activated at least for operation of the processing unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing system with two operating units;

FIG. 2 is a flow plan for the integration of a user interface of aroller unit in user interfaces of the operating units of the printingsystem according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a graphical user interface of a print server;

FIG. 4 shows the graphical user interface of the print server accordingto FIG. 3, whereby a control panel of a printing system is integratedinto this user interface;

FIG. 5 is a section of the graphical user interface according to FIG. 4with a control panel for a printing unit, a pre-processing unit and apost-processing unit;

FIG. 6 is a graphical user interface according to a second exemplaryembodiment, whereby shown are a user interface to set paper parametersof the printing unit and a plurality of function keys for the operationof the printing unit;

FIG. 7 is a graphical user interface according to a third exemplaryembodiment of a graphical user interface in a first display mode;

FIG. 8 shows the graphical user interface according to FIG. 7 in asecond display mode;

FIG. 9 is a user interface for the operation of two printing units; and

FIG. 10 is a printing system with four operating units.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the preferred embodimentillustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used todescribe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitationof the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations andfurther modifications in the illustrated device, and/or method, and suchfurther applications of the principles of the invention as illustratedtherein being contemplated as would normally occur now or in the futureto one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Primarily in that data that are transmitted to the printing unit and/orto the operating unit are stored in the processing unit, a graphicaluser interface can at least be activated for the operation of theprocessing unit. A user interface, via which the operation of aprocessing unit is also possible with the aid of the operating unit forthe operation of the printing unit, can thereby be provided or activatedin a simple manner. Both the printing unit and the processing unit arethus also operated via a common operating unit without the installationof a software specially adapted to the printing unit and the processingunit. After the connection of the processing unit with the printing unitor with the operating unit, the data can, for example, be immediatelytransmitted to the operating unit that then automatically supplementsthe user interface with components for the operation of the processingunit.

With the aid of the common operating unit, it is further achieved that auniform operating philosophy as well as a centrally overseen operationof entire printer or copier paths is possible. The printer or copiersystem is preferably an electrophotographic printer or copier system.

A second aspect concerns a method for the operation of a printer orcopier system with a pre-processing unit and/or post-processing unit.Via this method, the processing unit can be simply operated via theoperating unit of the printing unit or an autonomous operating unit viasimple connection of the printing unit with a pre-processing unit and/orpost-processing unit. The operating unit is then what is known as aSingle Point of Operation, since both the printing unit and thepre-processing unit and/or post-processing unit can be operated via theoperating unit. A uniform operating philosophy can thereby also bechanged simply. An electrophotographic printer or copier system ispreferably simply operated with the aid of the method according to thesecond aspect.

A third aspect concerns a printer or copier system with a pre-processingunit and/or post-processing unit, in which system a data processing unitis provided that controls and monitors the execution of print jobs of atleast one printing unit and furthermore provides at least one graphicaluser interface for the operation of the printing unit and/or theprocessing unit. It is thereby simply possibly to operate the printer orcopier system as well as the pre-processing unit and/or post-processingunit with the aid of the same data processing unit with which theexecution of the print jobs is also controlled and monitored. Forexample, an operating personnel can thereby both generate and coordinatethe print jobs and operate the printer or copier system withpre-processing unit and/or post-processing unit from a central location.Separate operating units at the printer or copier system as well as atthe pre- and/or post-processing units are no longer absolutelynecessary. The operation of the printer or copier system thereby occurscentrally in a simple manner. Given such an inventive printer or copiersystem, a further printer or copier system can also be operated via thedata processing unit via the graphical user interface. The printer orcopier system according to the third aspect is preferably anelectrophotographic printer or copier system.

A fourth aspect concerns a further method for the operation of a printeror copier system with a pre-processing unit and/or post-processing unit.In this method, the execution of a print job is controlled and monitoredby a data processing unit, whereby furthermore a graphical userinterface is provided by the data processing unit for the operation ofthe printing unit and/or of the processing unit. With the aid of such amethod, it is simply possible to implement the print preparation andprint job control and simultaneously the operation of the printing unitand/or the processing unit from a data processing unit. A simple andclear operation of the printing unit and/or the processing unit isthereby possible. Separate control panels for the printing unit and/orthe processing unit are not necessary. The method according to thefourth aspect is preferably used for the operation of anelectrophotographic printer or copier system.

A fifth aspect concerns an operating unit for at least one printer orcopier. The operating unit has a display unit that outputs a graphicaluser interface. The graphical user interface has a first section with auser interface on which input and/or output fields can be displayed withinformation about parameters of the printer and/or a processing unitconnected with the printer. The user interface has a second section inwhich a menu is contained via which a user interface that is shown inthe first section can be selected from a plurality of displayable userinterfaces. The user interface has at least a third section in which atleast one graphical function key is contained for the operation of theprinter and/or the processing unit connected with the printer. A verysimple and clear operation of the printer and of processing devicesconnected with the printer is possible via such an inventive operatingunit. A uniform operating philosophy can also be realized simply withsuch an operating unit. Faulty operations of individual processing unitsare at least reduced via the uniform user interface. A change between aplurality of user interfaces is simply possible via the menu, wherebygraphical function keys for important operating functions are providedin the third section. A simple operation of components of complexprinting paths is thereby simply possibly. Orientation times are therebyreduced. The operating unit preferably serves to operate anelectrophotographic printer or copier.

A sixth aspect concerns a method for the operation of a printer orcopier. Via the division of the graphical user interface into threesections, a simple and clear operation of the printer or copier and ofwhole printer or copier paths is possible. The method according to thesixth aspect is preferably used for the operation of anelectrophotographic printer or copier.

For the better understanding of the preferred embodiment, reference ismade in the following to preferred exemplary embodiments shown in thedrawings that are described using specific terminology. However, it isnoted that the protective scope of the invention should not thereby belimited, since such variations and further modifications to the showndevices and/or the methods as well as such further applications of theinvention as they are indicated therein are viewed as typical present orfuture specialized knowledge of a competent average man skilled in theart.

A block diagram of a printing system 10 is shown in FIG. 1. The printingsystem 10 comprises a roller unit 12 for a band-shaped carrier material(such as, for example, a paper roll), a printing unit 14 to print thecontinuous carrier material and a cutting unit 16 to cut the carriermaterial after the printing. The printing system 10 furthermorecomprises a first operating unit 18 and a second operating unit 20. Thefirst operating unit 18 and the second operating unit 20 are connectedwith the printing unit 14 via a local network, for example via a LAN(local area network). The roller unit 12 and the cutting unit 16 arerespectively connected with the printing unit 14 via at least one dataline.

After the connection of the roller unit 12 with the printing unit 14,data are transferred (over the data line) via which, in the printingunit 14, data are read out from a storage region to generate a commongraphical user interface for the roller unit 12 and the printing unit14. The cutting unit 16 likewise transfers data to the printing unit 14via which the printing unit 14 reads out data from a storage region forthe generation of a user interface for the roller unit 12, the printingunit 14 and the cutting unit 16. This common graphical user interface isthen displayed both on the operating unit 18 and on the operating unit20.

The data transferred from the roller unit 12 to the printing unit 14comprises at least information to identify the type of the roller unit12. With the aid of the type of the roller unit 12, the printing unit 14determines the data from a data storage in which at least the data togenerate a user interface of the roller unit 12 and the cutting unit 16are stored, said data being necessary to generate the user interface aswell as to generate a special user interface for the operation of theroller unit 12. The special user interface is integrated into the userinterface. In the same manner, the data transferred from the cuttingunit 16 to the printing unit 14 comprises at least specifications aboutthe type of the cutting unit 16, whereby with the aid of this data acontrol panel for the operation of the cutting unit is generated withthe aid of data stored in the printing unit 14. A data processing unitof the printing unit 14 thereby generates a user interface with whichboth the printing unit 14 and the roller unit 12 and the cutting unit 16are operable. A registration of the cutting unit 16 and the roller unit12 in the printing unit 14 thus occurs with the aid of the datatransferred from the roller unit 12 and the cutting unit 16. A centralcontrol unit (not shown) arranged in the printing unit 14 for thecontrol of the print process of the entire printing system 10furthermore receives information for the control of the roller unit 12and the cutting unit 16 via the data transferred from the roller unit 12and the cutting unit 16. This control unit can, for example, also becomprised in the data processing unit of the printing unit 14.

Alternatively, data that contain all information about the roller unit12 necessary for the generation of a common user interface of theprinting unit 14 and the roller unit 12 are transferred from the rollerunit 12 to the printing unit 14. Furthermore, these data also comprisedetailed information (that is needed by the central control unitarranged in the printing unit 14 for the control of the roller unit 12)for the generation of a control panel for the roller unit 12 and tocontrol the roller unit 12. In the same manner as from the roller unit12, data that comprise all information necessary for the generation of acommon user interface of the printing unit 14 and the cutting unit 16are transferred from the cutting unit 16 to the printing unit 14.Furthermore, data are transferred from the cutting unit 16 to theprinting unit 14, via which data a control of the cutting unit 16 via acentral control unit of the printing unit 14 and the generation of acontrol panel for the cutting unit are enabled. The generated userinterface is output on the operating unit 18 and/or on the operatingunit 20. The control panels primarily contain input and output fieldsfor the display and output of parameters and measurement values as wellas counted values of the printing unit 14, the roller unit 12 and thecutting unit 16.

The registration of the roller unit 12 and the cutting unit 16 with theprinting unit 14 as well as the transfer of the data from the rollerunit 12 and the cutting unit 16 to the printing unit 14 preferablyoccurs automatically after the connection of the roller unit 12 with theprinting unit 14 over a first data line and the cutting unit 16 with theprinting unit 14 over a second data line. The roller unit 12, theprinting unit 14 and the cutting unit 16 are preferably connected withone another via a common network to which in particular the operatingunits 18, 20 are also connected.

A flow chart is shown in FIG. 2 for the integration of the roller unit12 into a graphical user interface that is generated by a dataprocessing unit and is output by the operating units 18, 20. Identicalelements have the same reference characters. The user interface servesfor the operation of the printing unit 14 and of the roller unit 12. Theprocess is started in the step S10. In step S12 the roller unit 12 andthe printing unit 14 are subsequently connected with one another via thedata line. After the connection of the roller unit 12 and the printingunit 14 in step S12, in step S14 data are transferred at least from theroller unit 12 to the printing unit 14. Information about the rollerunit 12 are subsequently inserted into the device table of the printingunit 14 with the aid of the transferred data. The device table of theprinting unit 14 comprises information about the devices, components andassembly groups of the printing system 10. The device table isadministered with the aid of what is known as an SNMP agent (SNMP=SimpleNetwork Management Protocol). After the updating of the device table instep S16, a common graphical user interface of the roller unit 12 andthe printing unit 14 is generated that is transferred to the operatingunits 18 and 20. The graphical user interface is also designated as aGUI (graphical user interface). After the transfer of the data to theoperating units 18, 20, in step S20 with the aid of the transferred dataan updated user interface is displayed on display units of the operatingunits 18, 20 with the aid of display programs, what are known as browserprogram modules. The process is ended in step S22.

A graphical user interface of a print server is shown in FIG. 3. Thisprint server is responsible for the processing and coordination of printjobs that should be executed by the printing system 10. The graphicaluser interface 21 comprises a tree-like menu 22 in which a menu 24 withthe designation “All Jobs”, subordinate to the print server with thenetwork address 160.120.21.3, has been selected by an operatingpersonnel. Via this selection, the print job 30 still not executed isdisplayed in the window 25. Furthermore, a bar 28 with graphicalfunction keys via which the execution of the print job 30 can becontrolled is displayed in the window 25. Both the bar 28 and the printjob 30 are contained on a tab 26 with the designation “All Jobs”. Acontrol panel of the printing system 10 can be called by invoking a menuentry 31, “control panel”.

A graphical user interface 32 of the print server 160.120.21.3 is shownin FIG. 4, whereby, in contrast to the user interface 21 according toFIG. 3, in the user interface 32 the control panel function for theoperation of the printing unit 14 is activated. The user interface 32 isgenerated in that the menu entry 32 in the menu 22 is activated. Acontrol panel menu 34 is thereupon generated, in that the physical unitsand assembly groups operable with the aid of the operating unit arelisted. Furthermore, in the window 25 is a graphical representation ofthe components of the printing system 10 operable with the aid of theuser interface 32.

In particular, depictions with input and output fields for the controlof the printing unit 14 can be selected and displayed in the window 25via selection of the printer 14 in the window 25 or via selection ofsub-menus in the control panel menu 34. Furthermore, the window 25contains a field 38 with function keys for fast access to functionsand/or control panel views as well as display fields associated with thefunction keys. The control panel views in the window 25 and the region38 with function keys are associated with the tab 36. Via selection ofthe tab 36 or the tab 26 the print server view and the control panel cansimply be switched between. The control panel shown in the window 25contains a graphical representation of the printing unit 14 andoperating unit 18 on which the graphical user interface 32 can bedisplayed.

A section of the graphical user interface 32 according to FIG. 4 isshown in FIG. 5 after the roller unit 12 and the cutting unit 16 havebeen connected with the printing unit 14. As already specified inconnection with FIGS. 1 and 2, data are respectively transferred to theprinting unit 14 from the roller unit 12 and the cutting unit 15. Themenu 34 was supplemented with the menu items 3: post-processing, 4:pre-processing with the aid of this data. In this exemplary embodiment,the post-processing concerns the cutting device 16 and thepre-processing concerns the roller unit 12. Furthermore, respectively agraphical representation of the roller unit 12 and a graphicalrepresentation of the cutting unit 16 have been added to the graphicalrepresentation of the printing unit 14 in the window 25.

A representation of the user interface 32 according to a secondexemplary embodiment is shown in FIG. 6, whereby the printer menu 40 ofthe printing unit 14 is selected and activated in the control panel menu34, in that a hierarchically subordinate paper menu 42 has beenselected. After this selection of the paper menu 42, paper parameters ofthe paper web supplied to the printing unit 14 are displayed in thewindow 25. The paper parameters can be simply set by an operatingpersonnel with the aid of the combined input and output fields 44through 64. Furthermore, the user interface 32 contains a region 66 inwhich a shifting of the position of a print image generated on a frontside of the paper web is implemented with regard to a print imagegenerated on the back side. The shifting can be implemented with the aidof the function keys arranged in the bar 68. Further function keys forthe simple control of the printer have been added in the display field38 via the selection of the printer menu 40. Thus, for example, thegraphical function keys 69 through 80 in the region 38 and the displayelements arranged over these keys are based, with regard to theirdepiction and function, on input keys and display elements present ashardware on the printing unit 14, whereby via the function keys 69through 80 an operating personnel can operate the printing unit 14 inthe same manner as via the hardware input keys arranged on the printingunit 14. The operation of the printing unit 14 is thereby made easierfor the operating personnel.

Shown in FIG. 7 is a first representation of a graphical user interfacefor the operation of a printing system 84 according to a third exemplaryembodiment. The representation of the graphical user interface 82according to FIG. 7 comprises a menu 86, a region 88 with graphicalfunction keys (what are known as buttons), a region 90 in which currentprinter parameters are displayed from which one parameter can beselected regarding which further subordinate parameters can then bedisplayed in the window 92. An error message regarding a currentoccurred error is output in an output field 94. An indication as to howan operating personnel obtains access to the error location occurs withthe aid of an arrow 96. In both the menu region 86 and in the input andoutput region 90, the information and menus are arranged such that theycontain a multitude of entries and information and can be operatedsimply with the aid of a computer mouse. The first representation of thegraphical user interface 82 according to FIG. 7 is adapted for a mouseoperation. Via activation of the function key 98, the operating type ofthe user interface 82 can be changed to a touch-sensitive screen withwhat is known as finger operation. Such a touch-sensitive screencomprises sensors on the surface or in the border above the displayplane that detect the contact by a pen or a finger. With the aid ofthese sensors, inputs for function control of a program are provided ina manner similar to the operation via a computer mouse. However, for theoperation via finger inputs with the aid of a touch-sensitive screen,the distances between activatable input surfaces must be selectedcorrespondingly large in order to not simultaneously activate adjacentinput fields given a contact of the touch-sensitive screen with afinger. In contrast to the representation of the user interface formouse input, the input regions in the representation for touch inputwith the aid of a finger must thus be arranged removed correspondinglyfar from one another.

The graphical user interface 82 is shown in FIG. 8 in a secondrepresentation for the input with the aid of a finger via atouch-sensitive screen. In the first representation of the graphicaluser interface 82 in FIG. 7, as already described a switch-over to therepresentation for touch-sensitive input as it is shown in FIG. 8 ispossible with the aid of the function key 98. The individual symbols andbuttons in the input field 88 a of the user interface 82 a are shownenlarged. The output field 94 a for the output of the error message isalso shown enlarged in the representation of the user interface 82 arelative to the user interface 82. The menu entry 87 a in the menu 86 ais shown enlarged relative to the menu entry 87, whereby thehierarchically subordinate menu entries are only displayed after aselection of the menu entry 87 a in the menu 86 a. The number of theinput and output fields in the region 90 a is reduced in the userinterface 82 a relative to the user interface 82. The output field 92 awith the representation of the printer 84 substantially coincides withthe output field 92 of the user interface 82.

In FIG. 9, a control panel is shown for two printers that have beencombined into what is known as a twin unit. Such a twin unit comprisesat least two significantly identically designed printers, whereby thefirst printer prints the front side of a carrier material with a printimage and the second printer subsequently prints the back side of thecarrier material with a print image. The printers of a twin unit areseparate components that are arranged at least at a distance from oneanother, whereby an inverting device can be provided between the twoprinting units. With the aid of such a twin unit, continuous carriermaterial is preferably printed that is subsequently further processed,for example with the aid of a cutting unit. With the aid of such anoperating unit, parameters that are the same for both printers can besimultaneously changed for both printers. For this, a parameter ischanged only in an input field for one printer, whereby this parameteris then also changed identically for the second printer. Tabs 100 and102 are provided for other parameters such as, for example, tonerparameters given different toner colors of the first and second printer,fixing temperatures, print image scales and further differentparameters, whereby the tab 100 comprises parameters of the printer 1and the tab 102 comprises parameters of the printer 2. With the aid ofthese tabs, a simple switchover of the user interface for the adjustmentof the parameters of the first printer and the parameters of the secondprinter is possible.

However, with the aid of such a twin unit the carrier material can alsobe printed two-color on one side, whereby a print image is printed in afirst color by the printer 1 and a print image is printed in a secondcolor by the printer 2, one atop the other on the same side of thecarrier material. At least one printer of the twin unit can alsogenerate a print image with a special toner, for example a magnetotoner.

Given reciprocally influencing parameters of the first and the secondprinter, given a change of one parameter the influenced parameter can beautomatically changed in a suitable manner. If, for example, the fixingtemperature of the first printer is increased, the image scale of thesecond printing unit is reduced in order to attain print images ofprecise registration.

A printing system 10 in which the printing unit 14 comprises a printercontroller 104 is shown in FIG. 10. The operating units 114, 116, 118,120 are connected with an RMI server 122 (RMI: Remote Method Invocation)via data connections 106 through 112. The RMI server 122 is provided bythe printer controller 104. The RMI server 122 provides data for thedisplay of user interfaces on the operating units 114, 116, 118, 120.Furthermore, the RMI server assigns a write access right to theoperating unit 114 given a write request via the control panel 114, forexample given an input by an operating personnel via an input field onthe control panel. Via an operating input on the operating unit 114,this write access right can be returned such that, given a write requestvia the operating units 116, 118 or 120, it can also be assigned tothese. The write access right can only be assigned to one of theoperating units 114, 116, 118, 120 at a time.

A higher-prioritized operating unit such as, for example, the operatingunit 118, given a user input, the write access right can also beforcibly removed from the operating unit 114 and be assigned to theoperating unit 118. The operating unit 114 and the operating unit 116respectively contain a browser program module with support for theprogramming language JAVA, whereby RMI objects can be processed. Such abrowser program module can, for example, be Microsoft Internet Exploreror Netscape Navigator, whereby these program modules are respectivelyexecuted by the data processing unit of the operating units 114, 116. Inthe operating unit 118, the control panel is integrated into anapplication, for example in a print server application, as it is shown,for example, in FIGS. 3 through 6. The operating unit 120 comprises aJAVA application that access the data of the RMI server 122 and withthis data displays a control panel. The operating units 112 through 120are what are known as RMI client that access requisition servicesprovided by the RMI server and display control panels with the aid ofthese services.

For the administration of the write access right, what is known as anaccess ticket 124, via which a simple administration of a write accessright is possible, can also be used. To request a write access rightwhen the write access ticket 124 is already allocated, a messageregarding the request of the write access right can also be generatedthat is then transmitted to the operating unit 114 to which the accessticket 124 is allocated. This message is then output with the aid of thecontrol panel, whereby an operating personnel is informed about therequest for the write access and can, if applicable, return or,respectively, release the write access ticket 124.

Although a preferred exemplary embodiment is displayed and specified indetail in the drawings and in the preceding specification, these shouldbe viewed as purely exemplary and not as limiting the invention. It isnoted that only the preferred exemplary embodiment is shown anddescribed, and all variations and modifications should be protected thatpresently and in the future lie within the protective scope of theinvention.

1-34. (canceled)
 35. A printer or copier system with at least one of apre-processing unit and a post-processing unit, comprising: a printingunit that generates a print image on a carrier material; an operatingunit that is connected via a data line with the printing unit and viawhich data are transferable between the printing unit and the operatingunit, the operating unit outputting at least one graphical userinterface on a display unit for operation of the printing unit; at leastone processing unit connected with at least one of the printing unit andthe operating unit for processing of the carrier material and such thatdata are transferable between the processing unit and at least one ofthe printing unit and the operating unit; and in the processing unit,data are stored that are transferred to at least one of the printingunit and the operating unit and with which the graphical user interfaceis activated at least for operation of the processing unit.
 36. Aprinter or copier system according to claim 35 wherein data for thegeneration of at least the graphical user interface for the operation ofthe processing unit are transferred from the processing unit to acontrol panel.
 37. A printer or copier system according to claim 35wherein with the aid of transferred data, the graphical user interfaceis displayed with data stored in at least one of the printing unit andthe operating unit.
 38. A printer or copier system according to claim 35wherein at least one common user interface for the printing unit and theprocessing unit is generated with the aid of transferred data and withaid of data stored in at least one of the operating unit and theprinting unit.
 39. A printer or copier system according to claim 35wherein the system comprises a second printing unit that generates asecond print image on the carrier material, in the second printing unitdata are stored that are transferred to at least one of the operatingunit and to the first printing unit and via which a graphical userinterface for operation of the second printing unit is at leastactivated.
 40. A printer or copier system according to claim 35 whereinthe printing unit has at least one storage region in which programelements are stored that are loaded and executed by the operating unitto generate the graphical user interface, and wherein the operating unitis a client and the printing unit is a server such that the operatingunit and the printing unit operate according to a client-serverprinciple.
 41. A printer or copier system according to claim 35 whereinthe graphical user interface is output with help of a browser programmodule, the browser program module is executed by a data processingsystem of the operating unit, and at least distributed objects areexecuted by the printing unit.
 42. A printer or copier system accordingto claim 41 wherein the distributed objects comprise remote methodinvocation objects.
 43. A printer or copier system according to claim 35wherein the operating unit is contained in a print server that suppliesa print data stream to at least the printing unit.
 44. A printer orcopier system according to claim 35 wherein the processing unitcomprises a pre-processing unit which at least one of a roller unit, afeed unit, a dampening unit and a cutting unit to generate apredetermined paper format.
 45. A printer or copier system according toclaim 35 wherein the processing unit comprises a post-processing unitwhich is at least one of a cutting unit, a binding unit, a stackingunit, a booklet unit, a cooling unit, a dampening unit and a secondprinting unit.
 46. A printer or copier system according to claim 35,wherein program modules to control and to generate the user interfaceare stored in the printing unit and are executed there, and that theprogram modules are displayed on a display unit of a data processingsystem connected via a data line with the printing unit and serving asan operating unit.
 47. A printer or copier system according to claim 35wherein the printing unit and the processing unit are separatestructural units.
 48. A printer or copier system according to claim 35wherein the printer or copier system has at least a second operatingunit, and the graphical user interface is displayed at a same time onboth operating units, inputs in input fields of the graphical userinterface being by nature only possible from one of the operating units.49. A printer or copier system according to claim 35 wherein theprinting unit authenticates a respective control panel, and data togenerate the graphical user interface are only transferable to anauthenticated operating unit.
 50. A printer or copier system accordingto claim 48 wherein given a write request via the operating unit, awrite access right is assigned to this operating unit.
 51. A printer orcopier system according to claim 50 wherein the operating unit onlyreceives the write access right when no further operating unit that hasalready been granted a write access right is connected with the printingunit.
 52. A printer or copier system according to claim 51 wherein givena request for a write access right by the operating unit, a message viawhich an operating personnel of a further operating unit is asked toreturn the write access right is transmitted to the further operatingunit.
 53. A printer or copier system according to claim 52 wherein theoperating unit has a higher user right relative to a further operatingunit, and the write access right is withdrawn from the further operatingunit given a write access right request by the operating unit.
 54. Aprinter or copier system according to claim 35 wherein the systemcomprises an electrophotographic printer or copier system.
 55. A methodto operate a printer or copier system with at least one of apre-processing unit and a post-processing unit, comprising the steps of:generating a print image on a carrier material with aid of a printingunit; operating the printing unit with an operating unit with aid of agraphical user interface output on a display unit, the operating unitbeing connected with the printing unit with aid of a data line via whichdata are transferred between the printing unit and the operating unit;processing the carrier material with the at least one processing unit,the processing unit being connected with at least one of the operatingunit and the printing unit for transfer of data between the processingunit and the operating unit; and with the processing unit transferringdata to the operating unit via which said graphical user interface is atleast activated for operation of the at least one processing unit.
 56. Amethod according to claim 55 wherein the method is used for operation ofan electrophotographic printer or copier system.
 57. A printer or copiersystem having at least one of a pre-processing unit and apost-processing unit, comprising: a printing unit generating a printimage on a carrier material; at least one processing unit at least oneof pre-processing and post-processing the carrier material after thegeneration of the print image; and a data processing unit controllingand monitoring execution of print jobs of the printing unit, the dataprocessing unit providing at least one graphical user interface foroperation of at least one of the printing unit and the processing unit.58. A system according to claim 57 wherein the data processing unitcomprises at least one of a host computer system and a server computersystem, and that the data processing unit controls production flow togenerate a document.
 59. A system according to claim 57 wherein the dataprocessing unit controls the printing unit and the processing unit toproduce the document.
 60. A system according to claim 57 wherein theprinter or copier system comprises an electrophotographic printer orcopier system.
 61. A method for operation of a printer or copier systemwith at least one of a pre-processing unit and a post-processing unit,comprising the steps of: generating a print image on a carrier materialby a printing unit; processing the carrier material by a processing unitat least one of before and after the generation of the print image; andcontrolling and monitoring the execution of a print job by a dataprocessing unit for at least the printing unit, the data processing unitproviding a graphical user interface for operation of at least one ofthe printing unit and the processing unit.
 62. A method according toclaim 61 wherein the method is used for operation of anelectrophotographic printer or copier system.
 63. An operating unit forat least one printer or copier, comprising: a display unit which outputsa graphical user interface, the graphical user interface having a firstsection with a user interface on which at least one of input and outputfields are displayed with information about parameters of at least oneof the printer and a processing unit connected with the printer; asecond section having a menu in which a user interface that is displayedin the first section is selected from a plurality of displayable userinterfaces; and at least a third section having at least one graphicalfunction key for operation of at least one of the printer and theprocessing unit connected with the printer.
 64. An operating unitaccording to claim 63 wherein at least one of structural and functionunits of the printer as well as of the processing unit are selected withaid of the menu.
 65. An operating unit according to claim 63 wherein themenu has a tree-like structure wherein devices are partitioned into atleast one of structural and function groups.
 66. An operating unitaccording to claim 63 wherein the displayable user interfacesrespectively contain at least one of output fields and input fields. 67.An operating unit according to claim 63 wherein representation andfunction of the function key significantly corresponds to a key presenton at least one of the printer and the processing unit.
 68. An operatingunit according to claim 63 wherein a plurality of function keys areprovided that correspond to operation keys present as hardware on atleast one of the printer and the processing unit.
 69. An operating unitaccording to claim 63 wherein a user interface is directly invoked withaid of the function key.
 70. An operating unit according to claim 63wherein at least one of a representation type and an operating type ofat least one user interface is switched with aid of the function key.71. An operating unit according to claim 70 wherein a representation ofa control panel in which input fields are adapted for the input with aidof a computer mouse and a second representation in which the inputfields are activated for input with aid of a touch-sensitive screen areswitched between.
 72. An operating unit according to claim 63 whereinthe operating unit serves for operation of at least oneelectrophotographic printer or copier.
 73. A method for operation of aprinter or copier, comprising the steps of: outputting a graphical userinterface by a display unit; in a first section of the user interfacedisplaying a user interface on which detailed information is displayedabout at least one of parameters of the printer and parameters of aprocessing unit connected with the printer; in a second sectiondisplaying a menu in which a user interface to be displayed in a firstregion is selected from a plurality of displayable user interfaces; andcontaining in a third region at least one graphical function key of atleast one of the printer and the processing unit connected with theprinter.
 74. A method of claim 73 wherein it is used for operation of anelectrophotographic printer or copier.